18 Household Items You Never Knew Had Expiration Dates
We use various consumer products for different purposes daily. Although we sometimes think that these products can last forever, that’s not true. A lot of them have expiration dates. They need replacing from time to time in order to protect our health or the safety of our family. For instance, we should replace shoes, towels and car seats regularly.
Find out what household items you were not aware of , have expiration dates:
18 Household Items that Have Expiration Dates
Pantry
- Power Strips: 1-2 Years
If the fire extinguisher is damaged, for example there are some cracks in the hose, you have to repair it immediately or replace it.
- Disinfectants: 3 Months
Disinfectants lose their effectiveness after three months of use.
- Mosquito Repellents: 2 Years
Don’t bother protecting yourself by using a mosquito repellent that is more than 2 years old. You need to buy one every year.
- Power Strips: 1-2 Years
These strips are found at the electrical center of the home. You plug everything there starting from your tablet to the electric kettle. However, power strips have their limitations , so if you exceed their capacity it may lead to some problem. Take caution.
Kitchen
- Spices: 1-3 Years
Ground spices should not be kept for more than 6 months. Be aware that spices lose their smell and taste after a period of time.
- Flour: 6-12 Months
High-grade flour can be kept up to a year while first-grade flour for 6 months.
Wardrobe
- Bra: 1 to 2 Years
Most of the bras maintain their original shape up to a year or two. We must mention that there are extra quality bras that are more expensive, but can last longer. As soon as your bra loses its elasticity and shape, it’s time to buy a new one.
- Running Shoes: 1 Year
The cushioning of the running shoes starts breaking approximately at 250 – 300 miles of running. This causes stress to the joints, so no matter how much money you’ve spent on that pair of running shoes, it’s best you replace them once a year.
Nursery
- Child Car Seats: 6-10 Years
Very often parents use the same child car seat from their first child, no matter how old it is. However, over time the seat loses its elasticity, and the foam deteriorates so it’s best to buy a new on instead of using a secondhand one.
- Pacifier: 2-5 Weeks
It’s very important to replace latex pacifiers regularly. Over time latex breaks and the cracks breed germs that can be harmful for your baby.
Dresser
- Hairbrush: 1 Year
Brushes should be cleaned thoroughly once a week and replaced once a year. If you own a hairbrush with natural boar bristle you need to buy a new one every 7-10 months.
- Perfume & Eau De Toilette: 1-3 Years
Eau de toilette is good for 2 years when stored opened and 4 years if closed. On the other hand, perfumes which contain essential oils can last for 3 years when they are stored closed and 2 years if they are opened. So don’t save your perfume next time you are going out because it won’t last forever.
Bathroom
- Sponge: 2 Weeks & Shower Pouf: 6 Months
We are all aware of the fact that shower utensils can breed fungus and mold. If you want to kill bacteria on them, boil them in hot water. You mustn’t use expired poufs and sponges to clean your body.
- Toothbrush: 3 Months
If you want to maintain a good oral hygiene, replace your toothbrush every three months. Also, after you have had a flu or cold it’s necessary to buy a new brush as a prevention from getting sick again.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: 2 Months
The chemical solution degrades into the water after a while, and this is the reason why you should replace the bottle every 2 months.
- Towel: 1-3 Years
Did you know that damp towels are a perfect environment for bacteria growth? Even if you wash the towels, if they are fermented , you won’t solve the problems and they will still have bacteria on them.
Bedroom
- Pillows: 2-3 years
First, it loses it’s shape and second it becomes a home for dust mites over the time. So, you need to replace your sleeping pillow every 2 or 3 years.
- Slippers: 6 Months
We all love to wear our cozy slippers in the comfort of our homes. Unfortunately, they can be a perfect environment for fungal infections. Wash them as often as possible and try to replace them every 6 months.
From now on you know what you should replace from time to time. If you follow the advice we gave you, you will protect your health and the health of those who surround you.
